Can vending mechanism



Dec. 27, 1966 E. ZIBBELL CAN VENDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1966 E. ZIBBELL 3,294,286

CAN VENDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 8, 1963 INVENTOR.

ZMO/P' Z. Z/49864L ATTOR/VEYS E. L. ZIBBELL CAN VENDING MECHANISM Dec. 27, 1966 Filed NOV. 8, 1963 l l l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,294,286 CAN VENDING MECHANISM Elmore L. Zibbell, Redford Township, Wayne County, Mich, assignor to Ferro Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 322,298 Claims. (Cl. 221-295) The present invention relates to an improved can vending mechanism or machine for the automatic, coin-controlled dispensing of various types of canned beverages, for example, flavored soft drinks. More particularly, the invention concerns an improved machine employing, for each of a series of columns or chutes dispensing a choice of different canned beverages to be vended, a simple vaned or paddle-like control rotor incorporating simple lock and release means whereby the rotor is periodically unlatched and released from a locked condition under the control of simple solenoid, solenoid switch and limit switch provisions. This occurs only upon insertion of appropriate coinage in a coin control unit of the machine (uot part of the invention) and manipulation of a selector switch, thus causing the rotor to release a single can from the selected column, for gravity discharge to the purchaser, the rotation of the rotor being caused by the weight of the discharged can.

More specifically, the rotor in question includes, on a common rotative axis, a plurality of circumferentially spaced vane or paddle elements projecting radially from that axis, being preferably four in number; and a rotor detent or locking member having an equal number of circumferentially spaced, star-like detent or stop control arms, also projecting radially from the rotor axis. The rotor is ordinarily restrained from rotation, until insertion of proper coinage, by a single, medially pivoted lever or arm member having a detent en aging roller or like element on one end thereof, and operated on the lever end opposite its medial pivot by an electrical solenoid, as the latter is energized and de-energized upon opening and closing of certain solenoid and limit switches, after closing of one of several selector switches, there being one each of these solenoid and switch sets for each column of cans vended by the machine.

In further accordance with the invention, the detent arms of the vending control rot-or are so related to stop surfaces of the latter, and to the detent engaging roller of the solenoid-operated lever or arm member, that a coin-responsive actuation of the latter results in an instantaneous increment of rotation of the rotor, solely gravitationally under the weight of a leading can of the column resting upon a paddle or vane of the rotor, to discharge that can to the purchaser. The relationship of the rotors stop control arms, its stop surfaces and the arm engaging roller or member of the lever is such that said member is, upon actuation, moved radially toward the rotor axis and off a rotor stop surface, imparting a slight kick to a detent star arm in so moving, then to be engaged again, upon de-energization of the limit switch ofthe circuit, by the next arriving stop portion of the rotor, with a second can coming to rest upon a second rotor paddle or vane as the preceding can is gravitationally discharged.

In association with the circuitry of the solenoid, solenoid switch, limit switch and selector switch means mentioned above, the improved can vending machine includes further circuitry including switches, operated in the absence of a can or cans in the selected column, to signal this fact by illuminating a so-called flavor-empty lamp, and by breaking the control circuit for that particular column as a whole. The wiring provisions also contain means for the control of other units with which 3,294,286 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 the invention does not deal particularly, for example, the circuitry of a conventional coin control or changer mechanism associated with the vendor, its coin return, signaling lamp and the like.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a vending machine of the character described which, in addition to being very simple and inexpensively produced in regard to its structure and operation, has provisions to insure the delivery of a can from the selected column upon presentation to the coin changer of proper coinage, and to insure against such delivery in the event of improper coinage or attempts to Jackpot. In employing a simple vend control rotor in the form, preferably, of a molded plastic rotor having Vane and detent provisions formed integral thereon about a common axis, plus simple control lever means actuated by solenoid, solenoid switch and limit switch means, the invention avoids the complexity of known types of multiple part escapement mechanisms, their relatively high cost of production and proper installation, as well as the likelihood of their becoming jammed in operation to render the mechanism or machine inoperative.

Furthermore, the invention affords a vending mechanism which is highly compact, as well as simple, being capable of ready installation in the interior of an insulated storage casing, directly adjacent the evaporator structure of the refrigeration means serving the multiple column installation.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, somewhat schematic end elevational view of basic components of the machine, locked and released positions of a lever-mounted detent control element being shown;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are end views schematically depicting the action of the vaned dispensing rotor and its star detent and stop formations as the rotor is released by the solenoid control stop lever for a quarter turn can dispensing action;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the paddle-like or vaned dispensing and control rotor of the machine;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, end elevational views from the left and right of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic simplified wiring diagram showing components and connections of basic significance in the control circuitry of the machine.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the vending control assembly of the invention is generally designated 10, and is mounted within a suitably insulated storage container 11 of a type including a series of transversely or horizontally spaced, vertically extending storage columns 12 constituted by Zig-zag or serpentine chute members 13 of a well-known type. Each such chute or column member comprises an inclined floor 14 adjacent its discharge end and suitable side restraining means for the can. It is to be understood that there will be one of these laterally spaced storage columns 12 for each flavor of canned beverage to be dispensed. Each chute 13 is also pro vided, upwardly or forwardly of its discharge end, with a flavor-empty switch 15, which is actually a dual switch embodying normally open and normally closed contacts, as will be further described. These contacts are operated upon operation of a control finger 16 in the absence of a can in the chute 12 at that particular point, with the result that a signal lamp or the like is energized and the particular solenoid circuit for that column is opened.

.It is to be understood that the chutes 12 are exposed in the interior of a refrigerated storage container and insulated casing 11, of which an air baffle 17 may be considered a part, as well as certain other members completing or bracing the casing 11, such as is designated at 1-8. Suitable rigid bracket means 19 within the casing is provided with laterally spaced mounting plates 20 attached to the discharge end of the lowermost chute member 13 for mounting the detent structure to be described. Also mounted within the casing is an anti-theft baflle structure 22 and an inclined discharge ramp 23 for the support of a discharged can and guidance thereof outwardly to the user through a horizontally pivotetd door 24. The baffle 22 and ramp 23 are removably supported within the casing interior by brackets or ears 25, 26, respectively, and may be released for removal, to permit access to evaporator components, by removal of mounting screws 27 associated with each.

An appropriately rated electrical solenoid 30 is fixedly mounted upon' the top of the lowermost chute portion 13, as well as a normally closed limit switch 31 having an operating button 32. The mounting plates 20 of bracket 19 mount a normally closed solenoid holding switch 34 having an operating button 35 in opposed relation to and slightly above that of limit switch 31.

The switches 31 and 34 are operated and opened from their normally closed condition by a lever or arm member 37, which is centrally or medially pivoted on a horizontal axis 38 between the mounting plates 20. This lever is urged in a clockwise direction (FIG. 1) by a coil tension spring 39 suitably anchored at 40 to the structure of bracket 19. At its upper end, the arm carries an actuator element 42 for the solenoid holding switch 34, which element 42 is pivotally connected to a link 43, the link in turn being pivotally connected to the armature 44 of control solenoid 30.

The opposite or lower end of lever or arm member 37 is provided with a detent lock and release roller 45, indicated by the dash lead line in FIG. 1 in its left-hand, operative locking position and by the dot-dash lead line in its right-hand detent release position.

The normally closed switch 34 is held open by the solenoid responsive lever roller 42 when the machine is in a normal rest or inactive condition. Upon initial solenoid-actuation of lever 37 in a counterclockwise direction, the switch 34 closes and maintains a holding circuit for solenoid 30 until the latter has completed its stroke to the left in FIG. 1. When this occurs, the lever 37 engages the operating button 32 of normally closed limit switch 31, opening the latter to open the entire holding circuit for the machine as a whole.

The mounting plates 20 of the bracket 19 also serve to rotatably support the paddle-like or vaned dispensing control rotor 48 of the machine, structural details of this rotor being best shown in FIGS. 4, and 6 of the drawings. It comprises a one-piece rotor body 49, molded of nylon or other suitable plastic material to provide trunnion sockets 50 at its opposite axial ends by which it may be rotatably mounted to suitable trunnion or mounting means (not shown) of the bracket mounting plates 20. To one side (right as viewed in FIG. 4) of an integral circular flange 51 thereof, the rotor 48 is formed to provide a series of circumferentially spaced can supporting paddles or vanes 52, shown as four in number, whose radial extent equals the radius of flange 51. To the left of said flange 51, the rotor 48 is molded to provide an integral star detent and stop formation, generally designated 53, best shown in FIG. 5. The paddles or vanes 52 extend from their integral connection with the flange 51 to the opposite end of rotor 48.

The detent and stop formation 53, likewise integrally joined to flange 51 on the opposite side from paddles 52, comprises, as best shown in FIG. 5, a central star detent part 55 surrounding the trunnion socket 50 at that end, and an outer stop part 56 surrounding the part 55 in radially spaced relation to the latter, the axial extent of the parts 55, 56 being the same, i.e., to come flush with the left-hand end of rotor 48, as viewed in FIG. 4.

Detent member 55 comprises, for a four-paddle rotor,

an equal number of generally radially extending star detent arms 57, each formed to provide an arcuate, approximately quadrant-shaped, circumferentially facing surface 58 and a tangential flat surface 59 merging with surface 58 and extending to the end of the next adjacent detent arm 57, as shown in FIG. 5. The stop member 56 includes four stop abutments 60, each defined by a flat, roller guiding surface 61 spaced outwardly from and paralleling the star detent surface 59, and a circumferentially facing abutment surface 62. The surface 62 is merged through a generally quadrant-shaped are 63 with a rounded surface 64 centered on the rotor axis, and spaced outwardly from the outer end of a star detent arm 57.

The respective rotor stops 56, each including the components just described, merge successively with one another in equally spaced circumferential intervals; thus to define between the same and the respective detent arms 57 a series of successive passages, each including a circumferentially arcuate passage portion 65 (FIG. 5), a passage portion 66 of tangential character, and a radial passage portion 67. The width of these respective passage portions only lightly exceeds the diameter of the detent controlling roller 45 on medially pivoted detent control lever 37 (FIG. 1); so that as the lever is intermittently solenoid-swung the roller 45 will first disengage from a locking position in blocking engagement at a detent stop surface 62, in shifting radially inwardly of rotor 48 against a star detent arcuate surface 58, thus permitting rotor 48 to take a indexing movement in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 2 and 3 specifically illustrate the motional relationship of roller 45 to star detent arms 57 and stop abutments 60 of rotor 48 in the passage portions 65, 66 and 67 of the latter. In considering these views, as well as FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, it is to be borne in mind that it is the rotor which has the indexing movement, the movement of the lever roller 45 being solely a radially in and out one.

Thus, FIG..2 shows roller 45 in solid line as in blocking engagement with a rotor abutment stop 60 which is on the incoming side of cans rolling down the lowermost chute 13 of the machine. At this time the can C to be vended is resting on the rotor paddle or vane 52 diametrically opposite the abutment 60 in question, the can C being in an extreme forward or outward position on the last mentioned paddle.

Energization of solenoid 30 causes detent control lever 37 to swing counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1, with the result that the lever roller 45 moves inwardly in the radial passage portion 67 of the rotor detent and stop formation 53. In so moving the roller 45 inwardly engages the tip of the adjacent star detent arm 57, then becomes aligned with the tangential passage portion 66 of the rotor 48. Consequently the latter, freed from restraint by roller 45, indexes circumferentially under the gravitational force moment represented by the weight of the can C times the radial distance of its center of gravity from the rotor axis.

Noting FIG. 3, it is seen that the initial kick of the roller 45 on the tip of the adjacent star detent arm 57 occasions a movement of the star detent and rotor structure as a whole from the solid line position of detent 55 to the dotted line position in FIG. 3. Hence the can C on the discharging paddle or vane 52 is caused to roll outwardly as far as possible upon the paddle, limited only in this respect by an arcuate guide shield 68 (FIG. 1) on the mounting plates 20. Thus the weight of the can is rendered more effective through the increased moment arm from the rotor axis to cause a rapid clockwise, 90 rotation of rotor 48, discharging the can to the ramp 23, hence through door 24 to the user. In the meantime, the next following can C' advances onto the paddle which has come forwardly into parallel adjacency with the chute bottom 14, as shown in FIG. 1, the 90 motion of rotor 48 carrying can C to the previous-todischarge position of can C, awaiting the next vending cycle.

As previously indicated, the normally closed solenoid switch 34 (previously held open by member 42 on solenoid link 43 engaging its control button 35) closes at commencement of the vending operation, completing a holding circuit to maintain energization of the solenoid 30 until the latter has made a full rotor releasing stroke to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1. At the conclusion of this stroke, the control lever 37 engages the operating button 32 of normally closed limit switch 31, thus to open the circuit of the particular rotor control mecha nism for the column or chute in question. The spring 39 then returns control lever 37 to its original position, in which its detent stop roller 45 returns to the solid line position of FIG. 2, intercepting and blocking the stop 60 of rotor 48 as the latter reaches the stop point.

As indicated above, FIG. 2 shows roller 45 in stop (solid line), intermediate (dotted line) and re-stop (dotdash line) positions relative to the 90 index of rotor 48, and it should be borne in mind that the changing relationships are occasioned by rotative movement of the rotor, rather than, as is seemingly the case in FIG. 2, by a movement of roller 45 other than the radial movement to which it is limited by its mount on lever 37. As also indicated above, FIG. 3 schematically indicates the effect of the changing position relationships in imparting a slight kick to star detent 55 as the control level roller is solenoid projected. In moving from the solid relationship to that shown in dotted line, the roller 45 tilts star detent 55 as from solid to dotdash line, prior to returning radially outwardly to the dot-dash line, rotor-locking position.

- Only the basic components of the control circuitry of the above machine or mechanism are shown in the schematic wiring diagram. The reference numeral 70 designates a power input plug connected by leads 71, 72 with the circuit of a series of flavor-out lamps 73, 73, etc., one for each of the series of vending columns or chutes 13. Of this lamp circuit, the lead 72 services certain coin lamp, thermostat and heater provisions not germane to the invention, hence not shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 7. This figure diagrams the full electrical operating circuit 69 for one of the series of mechanisms 10, it being understood that each of the other mechanisms has similar circuitry components, a few of which are designated by reference numerals, primed,

The push button switch lead 82 connects from the normally open terminal of solenoid switch 34 direct to switch 80. All these connections, and others to be described, are made through cinch plug and socket units (not shown) but schematically indicated at A in FIG. 7.

Further conductors or leads 84 and 85 are connected to the terminal of the normally open contact component 76 of flavor-out switch 15. Lead 84 is a cross-over lead to successive circuits 69', etc., and it has tapped thereto an external wire 84a directed to the coin control unit. Lead 85 is similarly a cross-over lead, and it too has a connection through conductor 85a to the coin control. Leads 86, 87 and 88 connect solely to the coin control mechanism, the lead 86 going from the contactor terminal of limit switch 31, the lead 87 from the contactor of the normally closed part 75 of flavor-out switch 15 and the lead 88 from the terminal of the solenoid switch 34. a

It is believed that the operation of the improved machine Will be clear from the above description. It is a mechanism of great simplicity and compactness of structure. In particular, the integrally molded rotor 48 is characterized by stops 60 and star arms 57 at a single rotor end which are spaced circumferentially from one another so as to provide the needed radial zones 67 of the guide path for the control lever roller 45; and the can-engaged paddles 52 of the rotor lie in radial planes passing through the respective radial path zones. Thus the rotor 48 itself corresponding to those seen in FIG. 7. The lamp lead V a 71 returns to a terminal of the normally closed contact 75 of the flavor-out switch 15; and the lamp lead 72 has conductors 72a and 72b connecting the same externally with the coin control equipment (not shown).

As indicated above, the switch 15 is a dual one having a normally closed contact 75 and a normally open contact 76. When the contact 75 opens in the absence of a can engaging its control element 16 (FIG. 1), the circuit of the solenoid 30 for the chute or column in question, including a lead 77 to the contact 75 and a connection to switch lead 82, is opened. Solenoid 30 is de-energized and the flavor-out lamp 73 is lighted. The respective normally closed and normally open positions of the contacts 75 and 76, in which they are held by a can in the column 13, are indicated in dotted line in FIG. 7.

It is to be understood that the overall circuit system of the machine or mechanism 10 includes series or crossover connections between successive individual circuits 69, 69, etc. Thus, the push button conductor or lead 81 of circuit 69 will connect over to a terminal of the second circuit 69', and ultimately to the push button switch 80. Similarly, a conductor or lead 83 connects over from a closed terminal of limit switch 31 to the circuit 69', the latter being in turn connected over by lead 83', as shown in FIG. 7, to the succeeding circuit.

furnishes all the necessary can handling and discharge control components to coact with the solenoid actuated lever 37 in the operation of the machine. Expensive and often-times unreliable, multiple part escapement means are avoided.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A dispensing machine for cans and like objects, comprising a support having means to guide a series of said objects for gravitational discharge one after another along a path in a vertical plane, a discharge control rotor mounted on an axis intersecting said plane, said rotor having a plurality of radially extending vanes successively positioned upon rotary indexing of said rotor to individually intercept objects traveling along said path and then receive the objects thereon for gravitational discharge upon further rotary indexing, said rotor being provided on an axial end thereof with a central star detent formation and a series of stop formations surrounding the detent formation, said detent and stop formations and said vanes rotating as a unit with and on said rotor, said detent and stop formations being spaced radially from one another to define therebetween a circumferentially connected control path, a control member mounted on said support to move in opposite directions, said control member having an element received in said control path to successively engage and block said stop formations to control the indexing of the rotor, an actuator operatively connected with said control member to operate the same to position said element radially into and out of position for blocking engagement with said stop formations, and control devices positioned for alternate operation by said control member upon opposite movements of the latter, said control devices being'operatively connected to said actuator to control periodic operation of the latter for the positioning of said control member element.

2. A dispensing machine for cans and likeobjects, comprising a support having means to guide a series of said objects for gravitational discharge one after another along a path in a vertical plane, a discharge control rotor mounted on an axis intersecting said plane, said rotor having a plurality of radially extending vanes successively positioned upon rotary indexing of said rotor to individually intercept objects traveling along said path and then receive the objects thereon for gravitational discharge upon further rotary indexing, said rotor being provided on an axial end thereof with a central star detent formation and a series of stop formations surrounding the dent formation, said detent and stop formations and said vanes rotating as a unit With and on said rotor, said detent and stop formations being spaced radially from one another to define therebetween a circumferentially connected control path including generally radial portions adjacent the respective stop formation and generally circumferential portions connecting to the succeeding radial path portions, the external perimetral outline of said detent formation generally conforming with and in part defining said control path, a control member mounted on said support to move in opposite directions, said control member having an element received in said control path to successively engage and block said stop formations to control the indexing of the rotor, an actuator operatively connected with said control member to operate the same to position said element radially into and out of position for blocking engagement with said stop formations, and contro devices positioned for alternate operation by said control member upon opposite movements of the latter, said control devices being operatively connected to said actuator to control periodic operation of the latter for the positioning of said control member element.

3. A dispensing machine for cans and like objects, comprising a support having means to guide a series of said objects for gravitational discharge one after another along a path in a vertical plane, a discharge control rotor mounted on an axis intersecting said plane, said rotor having a plurality of radially extending vanes successively positioned upon rotary indexing of said rotor to individually intercept objects traveling along said path and then receive the objects thereon for gravitational discharge upon further rotary indexing, said rotor being provided on an axial end thereof with a central star detent formation and a series of stop formations surrounding the detent formation, said detent and stop formations and said vanes rotating as a unit with and on said rotor, said detent and stop formations being spaced radially from one another to define therebetween a circumferentially connected control path including generally radial portions adjacent the respective stop formation and generally circumferential portions connecting to the succeeding radial path portions, the external perimetral outline of said detent formation generally conforming With and in part defining said control path, a control lever pivotally mounted on said support, said control lever having an element received in said control path to successively engage and block said stop formations to control the indexing of the rotor, an actuator operatively connected with said control lever to operate the same to position said element radially into and out of position for blocking engagement with said stop formations, and control devices positioned for alternate operation by said control lever upon opposite movements of the latter, said control devices being operatively connected to said actuator to control periodic operation of the latter for the positioning of said control lever element.

4. A dispensing machine for cans and like objects, comprising a support having means to guide a series of said objects for gravitational discharge one after another along a path in a vertical plane, a discharge control rotor mounted on an axis intersecting said plane, said rotor having a plurality of radially extending vanes successively positioned upon rotary indexing of said rotor to individually intercept objects traveling along said path and then receive the objects thereon for gravitational discharge upon further rotary indexing, said rotor being provided on an axial end thereof with a central star detent formation and a series of stop formations surrounding the detent formation, said detent and stop formations and said vanes rotating as a unit with and on said rotor, said detent and stop formations being spaced radially from one another to define therebetween a circumferentially connected control path including generally radial portions adjacent the respective stop formation and generally circumferential portions connecting to the succeeding radial path portions, the external perimetral outline of said detent formation generally conforming with and in part defining said control path, a control lever pivotally mounted between the ends thereof on said support, said control lever having an element at one end thereof received in said control path to successively engage and block said stop formations to control the indexing of the rotor, an actuator operatively connected with said control lever adjacent the opposite end thereof to operate the same to position said element radially into and out of position for blocking engagement with said stop formations, and control devices positioned for alternate operation by said opposite end of said control lever upon opposite movements of the latter, said control devices being operatively connected to said actuator to control periodic operation of the latter for the positioning of said control lever element.

5. A dispensing machine for cans and like objects, comprising a support having means to guide a series of said objects for gravitational discharge one after another along a path in a vertical plane, a discharge control rotor mounted on an axis intersecting said plane, said rotor having a plurality of radially extending vanes successively positioned upon rotary indexing of said rotor to individually intercept objects traveling along said path and then receive the objects thereon for gravitational discharge upon further rotary indexing, said rotor being provided on an axial end thereof with a central star detent formation and a series of stop formations surrounding the dent formation, said detent and stop formations and said vanes rotating as a unit with and on said rotor, said detent and stop formations being spaced radially from one another to define therebetween a circumferentially connected control path including generally radial portions adjacent the respective stop formation and generally circumferential portions connecting to the succeeding radial path portions, the external perimetral outline of said detent formation generally conforming with and in part defining said con- ,trol path, a control lever pivotally mounted between the ends thereof on said support, said control lever having an element at one end thereof received in said control path to successively engage and block said stop formations to control the indexing of the rotor, an electrical actuator operatively connected with said control lever adjacent the opposite end thereof to operate the same to position said element radially into and out of position for blocking engagement with said stop formations, and holding and stop switches positioned for alternate operation by said opposite end of said control lever upon opposite movements of the latter, said switches being operatively connected to said actuator to control periodic operation of the latter for the positioning of said control lever element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,127 2/1907 Ball 221-295 X 1,280,441 10/ 1918 Gonick 221295 X 2,459,715 1/ 1949 Newman 221295 2,496,689 2/ 1950 Balzer 221-295 X 2,802,473 10/ 1957 Keefe 194-22 X 2,941,643 6/ 1960 Donnelly 2219 X 2,956,660 1/1960 Nordquist 221-9 X 3,082,907 3/ 1963 Patzer 2216 3,110,417 11/1963 Wingate et al 2211l1 3,184,105 5/1965 Willoughby et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,091,027 10/ 1954 France.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH LEIMER, x m 

1. A DISPENSING MACHINE FOR CANS AND LIKE OBJECTS, COMPRISING A SUPPORT HAVING MEANS TO GUIDE A SERIES OF SAID OBJECTS FOR GRAVITATIONAL DISCHARGE ONE AFTER ANOTHER ALONG A PATH IN A VERTICAL PLANE, A DISCHARGE CONTROL ROTOR MOUNTED ON AN AXIS INTERSECTING SAID PLANE, SAID ROTOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING VANES SUCCESSIVELY POSITIONED UPON ROTARY INDEXING OF SAID ROTOR TO INDIVIDUALLY INTERCEPT OBJECTS TRAVELING ALONG SAID PATH AND THEN RECEIVE THE OBJECTS THEREON FOR GRAVITATIONAL DISCHARGE UPON FURTHER ROTARY INDEXING, SAID ROTOR BEING PROVIDED ON AN AXIAL END THEREOF WITH A CENTRAL STAR DETENT FORMATION AND A SERIES OF STOP FORMATIONS SURROUNDING THE DETENT FORMATION, SAID DETENT AND STOP FORMATIONS AND SAID VANES ROTATING AS A UNIT WITH AND ON SAID ROTOR, SAID DETENT AND STOP FORMATIONS BEING SPACED RADIALLY FROM ONE ANOTHER TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CONNECTED CONTROL PATH, A CONTROL MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT TO MOVE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, SAID CONTROL MEMBER HAVING AN ELEMENT RECEIVED IN SAID CONTROL PATH TO SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGE AND BLOCK SAID STOP FORMATIONS TO CONTROL THE INDEXING OF THE ROTOR, AN ACTUATOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID CONTROL MEMBER TO OPERATE THE SAME TO POSITION SAID ELEMENT RADIALLY INTO AND OUT OF POSITION FOR BLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOP FORMATIONS, AND CONTROL DEVICES POSITIONED FOR ALTENATE OPERATION BY SAID CONTROL MEMBER UPON OPPOSITE MOVEMENTS OF THE LATTER, SAID CONTROL DEVICES BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATOR TO CONTROL PERIODIC OPERATION OF THE LATTER FOR THE POSITIONING OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER ELEMENT. 